Tractor.



A. D. REA.

TRACTOR.

APPLlc/Tlou man nime. ms.

1,241,766. Patented oon 2,1917.

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STA-rias PATENT OFFICE...

Ancrrrua D. BEA, or MILWAUKEE, wisconsin, Assrsnon To ALLIs-OHArfMEns MANU- `'vAG'IU1s1LNsyecmrrAlw, or MILWAUKEE. WISCONSIN. A CORPORATION 0F DELA# TRACTOR.

l l l l l jqllnf Specletion of Letters Patent. Pgtenteldtotlg, 1917. i gpplication filed December 18, 1916. Serial No. 67,936.-

To all 'whome't may concern: l of Fig. 1 lookin in the direction Bait known :that infAnmun una a rows. gt 1 ,9i the 55 citizen of the-United States, residin Fatih/LY `Thi type' of vehicle? Ontricti 'to ivl'iieli4Q waukee',v inthecou'ngty of Milwau ee' and 'thisfinv'ention' is especiallyfipplicable com? State: OfWisconsinf'llaVe'inventedf'alcertain prises essentially il vehicle {Hlle-Q4, apnr new andV useful Improvement in Tractors, of track frames 2,and an1b ilxl 3 connectedL 60 of which the following is a specification. to the vehicle frame 24 thriih springs Q5 This invention relates to improvements in and elements 30, and to the thick frames 2 the construction Of tractors and is especially througlrbifnreated snspensiot links 22 and applicable to tractors of the endless track pivots .6. Each of the links Q2 is swveled type 1 l A V upon an end of the axle 3, being prevented 65 Anobject of the invention is toprovde a from displacement along the axle by' means tractqrfof fthjeendless track type which is fof a Suitable nut -jwhi'ch may be locked to simple and rugged' in construction and ef-l' thea'xlen lany suitable manner. I4The pivot ficient in `Operatiori.`4 'One of the more sper F ofV each Of "the endless track' devices 'is cie Objectsfis toprovide simple and eilicient mounted in a 'suitablebeiringrin4 the track 70 means for'entirely 'inclosing and protecting" frame 2 antl'is locked against axin'1-d"spl:icc

the mehansn'for' transmitting power from ment by means of pin's passing transverseiy the velcle frlarit'oi thedrvng elements of through the ends" Of the pivot Vand""thrmtgh a trac'ii'1.9iirnothe-r `object is( tofprvide the' adjacent portion' of the link 225 The i means ,rior ftting'l'pd adjustmnt 'of low'er portion of each link Q2 through which -75 the pvweflt'agiriittig vmechmsms 0f a the axle 3' passs', iS svinguljle"relatively t0 tractor, Withontiecessitatng removal of the44 the adjacent track fraie2 about'ltlrej pivot mechan? fm^incibsf lvcasings. "A further' and is locatedin a tlnong`rl-f1clearanceopen` object` is -lto-'pro iifde Asimple and efficient inf: 21 in tlrjetruckfrauc Q. sw'velcoiinetion's between the axle and the Each of the track fnmes Z 'hsawtrack 80 trclg frames of an" endless track tractor, driving shaft 4f mountedl in beu'ing's at the ich eonectionsirill Aalso permit displace` trailing'i ond thereof. A suitable driving Ilisent of' the track frames transversely of the sprocket, not shown, is fixed to enclr'of the l axis Oftheaixle. j '1" l' i A ydriving' shafts 4, beingr adapted to engage K Aleai Atio'of dan. embodiment of and transmit motionto the links 29 of the 86 ,the inyentiorltnayibehad by referring to endless track 8. 'Ifile portioiroff each shaft' the dwingffcoriipfanying and forming 'a 'fi'wh'ch iszintermcdmte the atl-jacetgtrack 'part O "this specificatie 'in which likerefframe 2 and the vehicle frame 24',`is pro-11" erence characters lar Parisi? l9h]Q te the sameor simivided wthna driving-sprocket 16 secndgtff views. the Sliilft 4. A pivot "i4 have. their rear ends provided with bearing bushmge 15 which are fixed to the casings and engage" the shafts 4. The forward end of each casing 1 is provided with., an elongated adjustment having slot 12 through which the adjacent end of the power shaft 5 extends, and which slot is normally closed by a slidin plate 13 mounted inA guides 14 secured to t e side of the casing 1. The portion of each casing 1 adjacent the axle 3 is provided with a clearance openi 20 throu h which the adjacent end of the axle exten The casins 1 have closing walls 32 extendinlg aroun the openin s 2O and longitudine y of the axle 3, the ower portions of these walls being formed upwardly .convex in order to prevent accumulation of dirt thereon. The casings 1 are provided with removable cover plates 19 which coact with the casings to form `housings for entirely inclosing the power transmitting mech The adjusting rod 9 of each track mechanism has its forward end pivoted upon the power shaft 5, and has its opposite end ad- ]ustably secured to a hub 23 ofthe correspending casing 1. The means 'for permitt' Y relative adjustment of the rod 9 and a jacent cas 1 comprises a sleeve nut 10 having a-threa ed outer portion en agying the hub 23 and having a through re engaging the rod 9. The forward end of the nut.10 en es a collar 34 on the adjacent rod 9, while the rear end of the nut engages a nut 11 which is secured to the end of the adjacent rod 9. The sleeve nut 10 is provided with a hexa nal end 3 3 located within the o g 20 orpermitting rotation of the s eeve nut relatively to the adjacent rod 9 and casingl. The collar 34'ai id nut 11 form abutmentiifor preventing fdisplacement of the nut 10 along the rod 9.

During the normal operation of the tractor the power shaft 5 is rotated by the e iigine in the us'iial manner and transmits power through the sprockets 18., chains 17, and sprockets 16 to t e track driving shafts 4. As the track driving shafts 4 are rotated the endless tracks 8 are caused-tn. move and to transmit motion to the vehicle frame 24 through the track frames 2, casings 1 and links 22. Due to the fact that the ower shaft 5 is mounted upon the vehicle rame 24, while the track drivin shafts 4 are mounted upon the track rames 2, relative motion of the vehicle and track frames 24, 2, .will cause either the shaft 5 to swing about one or both of the shafts. 4 as a center, or vice versa. This relative displacement ofthe frames 2, 24, necessitates f vision of connections between the axle 8 and the track framesg which will permit displacement of the 'track frames V y of the axis of the axle 8. Provision must also be made to permit relative rotation of the track'frames 2 upon the axle 3. The links 22 which are swiveled upon the axle 3 and pivotallvV` connected to the frames 2, ermit such relative motion of the track rames and axle, the clearance openin s 21 permitting swinging of the links ia out their pivot 6 without interfering with the frames 2.

f 1t is desired to vary the distance between' the axes of the shafts 4, 5, this may readily be done by manipulating the adjusting devices between the rods 9 and casings 1. By rotating one of the sleeve nuts I the corresponding shaft 9 and casing 1 may be moved relatively to each other to either lengthen or shorten the distance between the axes ofthe shafts 4, 5, thereby either tensioning or slackening the corresponding chain 17.

It will be noted that the openings 20 in the casings 1 permit relative displacement of the frames 2, 24, without causing interference of the axle 3 with the casings 1. These openings 20 also permit ready manipulation of the adjusting devices for varying the distances between the shafts 4, 5, without necessitating removal of any of the inclosn elements. It should also be noted that t e ower transmission mechanisms are at all times completely inclosed, the slid Aing plates 13 and e ongated slots 12 permittin adjustment of the driving connections andg maintaining complete inclosure of the ower transmission mechanisms for al1 adf )usted positions thereof. B removal of the plates 19, inspection of t e normally inclosed elements is readily permitted. The links 22 form simple and eflicient devices for connectinf; the axle 3 to the frames 2 and permit al of the desired relative movements of these elements. It has heretofore been proposed to utilize crossheads swiveled upon the axle 3 and slidable in the frames 2 to perform the functions of the links 22, but. such devices are considerably more expensive to construct, and wear more readily than do the present devices.

It should be understood that it is not desired to be limited to the exact details 'of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent,-

1. In combination, a vehicle frame a track frame connected thereto, an endless track carried by said track frame, mech anism mounted oiisaid track frame for driving said endless track, means for transmitting ower from said vehicle frame to said m anism, and means for entirely inclosing said power transmitting means.

2. In combination, a vehicle frame a track frame connected theretmjan en e track carried by said track frame, mecvhanism mounted on said track frame for driving said endless track, means for transmitting power from said vehicle frame to said mechanism, means for entirely inclosing said power transmitting means, and means for adjusting said power transmitting means from the outside of said inclosing means.

3. In combination, a vehicle frame, a track frame, an axle, means connecting together a place on each frame remote from said axle, and means for transmitting power between said places, said connecting means entirely inclosing said power transmitting means.

4. In combination, a vehicle frame, a track frame, an axle connecting said frames, a casing connecting together a place on each `of said frames on opposite sides of said axle, 20v

casing, said casing having an opening therei through for said and power transmitting means within said axle, and a wall extending around said opening and closing said casing at said opening.

5. In combination, a vehicle frame, a track frame, an axle connecting said frames,

-a casing, and power transmitting means within said casing, said casing having an opening therethrough for said axle and a wall extending around said opening and closing said casing at said opening.

6.1n combination, a vehicle frame, a

track frame, a casing connecting said frames, said casing having an opening therethrongh and a wall extending around said opening and closing said casing at said opening, power transmitting means within said casing, and means `for adjusting said power transmitting means from within said opening.

7. In combination, a vehicle frame havin an axle, a track frame having a' pivot, and a link suspending said axle from said pivot.

8. In combination, a vehicle frame having an axle, a track frame, means pivotally connected to said axle and to said track frame, and other means ivotally connected to said vehicle frame andsaid track frame.

9. In combination, a vehicle frame having an axle, a track frame, a link ivotall connected to said axle and to said) track rame, and Va casing pivotally connected to said vehicle frame and said track frame.

10. In combination, a vehicle frame having an axle, a track frame havinga pivot, a link connecting said axle and said pivot, a casing connecting said vehicle frame and said track frame, and power-transmitting means inclosed entirely Within said casing.

11. In combination, a vehicle frame, having an axle, a track frame havin a-pi vot, a link suspending said axle and said vehicle frame from said pivot, acasing, and powertransmit'ting means within said casing, said casing havin an opening therethrough for said axle ang said axle being movable relatively to said track frame Within said opening.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

ARTHUR D. REA. 

